Air-craft.



F. BRAGKETT.

AIR CRAFT.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 11,1910.

1,039,092, Patented Sept. 24,1912.

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nuewtoo Fredefzt/" Frac/fel? WLM/Leones coLuMmA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTUN, u4 c4 P. BRACKBTT.

AIR GRAFT.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 11,1910.

1,039,092. Patented. Sept. 24, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

cDLUMBlA PLANUGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

F. BRAGKBTT.

AIR CRAFT.

'APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11,1910.

1,039,092. v Patented sept.24,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBI PLANQURAPH CO.. WASHINGTON. D.C.

P. BRAGKETT.

AIR 0mm.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1lI 1910. 1,039,092. Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CCMIABHINUTON, D, CA

may be utilized singly autres "Arr FREDERICK BRACKETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AIR-CRAFT.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1910. Serial No. 571,428. i

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

have invented new and -useful Improve-V ments in Air-Graft, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a type of air ship made up of an especially advantageous combination of supporting surfaces and gas bags. y While of this particular relation however, there are many features of my invention which may be applied, some of them, to heavier than air machines which most commonly are constructed with plane supporting surfaces, while some of them may be applied to lighter than air craft in which use is made of gas bags and in which the gas is principally relied upon to sup port the structure,`and still'others of which` or in combination in both types of air eraf Aeroplanes or heavier than air flying machines possess the disadvantage that they cannot remain in the air for long periods of time after the propelling power is cut off. On the other hand'they possess the advantages of a very flexible control, light weight, and freedom from damage or destruction due to escape or firing of gases, since no gas is used to support them. In case of attack in time of warit will be practically impossible to disable a flying machine of this'type by riiie shot or other small arm, unless some vital part of the propelling means or steering means is damaged. On the other hand machines of the lighter than air type in which use is made of containers filled with gas for supporting, are very large and bulky, presenting an easy mark for rifle shots in case of attacks. The gas container may be most readily penetrated by a ball, and further than that set on lire and the ship destroyed either by fire or the resulting explosion. In case fire does not result it is probable that the gas would escape from the opening made by a ball in a very short time, and the craft would either be `forced to come'to theearth or would fall violently down. Furthermore, air ships of this type are not nearly so quick in their movements as are machines of the heavier than air type, and owing to the great lightness of their supporting means `in comparison with the exposed surface of the container, they often become unmanageable in adverse winds. They possess the advantage that in case of failure of motive power, or 1n case it is cut off, the ship will still float, and may be sailed as a balloon for days at a time under good conditions.

It is the prime object of my invention to produce an aircraft in which are combined the good features of both types of air craft which I have mentioned, by which combination I secure substantially all the advantages and exclude substantially all the disadvantages possessed by each type singly.

According to my invention I make use of a supporting means for an air craft consist ing `of a gas container, the underside of which is shaped as a supporting plane. This secures for the craft a means whereby the same may remain in the air after the gas may have escaped from the container," and also a means whereby the ship may remain inthe air for a long period of time after the motive power has been cut off. Thus it is evidentthat damage to either a motor or toa gas container may be done without disabling the craft. Preferably I make use of a plurality of gas `containers arranged in a plurality of rows, one above `the other, and each provided with a plane supporting surface on its underside, the result being that for each row of containers there is an aggregate plane supporting surface of large area. By using a plurality of containers, I adapt the air craft of my invention for portation, and ready assemblage and raising, blage. y

An improved steering means secures for the air craft of my invention a flexibility of control which is equal to that of the best of the heavier than air craft in use today. The steering means which I employ comprises a plurality of obliquely mounted steering rmou.

and lowering and disassem` vanes on each side of the craft and means for operating them in groups.

In the accompanying drawings, I show a specific embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the craft of my inven tion; Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross section of one of the gas containers; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of y a modified form; Fig. 5 is a detail of the means connecting them together; Fig. 6 is a view of a fastener used for connecting the gas bags together; Fig. 7 is a detail of the car of the air craft; Fig. `8 is a side eleva-1 ...instead of outside,

'tion-cfa steering apparatus on VVone sideV of the craft; and Figs. 9 to 12 inclusiveY are diagrammatic views of the steering apparatus in its several positions.

l0 are the gas containers of which there are in this embodiment twelve arranged, in three rows 'of oureach. Each container is rectangular in cross section.. and hasitsends.

and is formed with Vv'tice work ot stampedmateri-al. The underor bottom side 13.' ot each of thel container-Sy is curvedA in` the' direction of Hight ofthe machine, as clearly shownin Fig, 1,; and

. shaped inv accordance with the rules. used for shaping the supporting planes face may craft `-may heavier than air machines.V It will. be-noted that for each. row there is: an aggregate sup..- porting'surface ofa large area.. This.l surbemade of such an-farea that' the be supported.y by. it aloney without the, assistance otgasin the containers, and

thecapacity oi the containers mayg be madeV such that they will hold enough gastoI su-.p .port the machined when it isnot beingpro parte.V

This proportion may-'befvariedl at will, and in war craits it is.A preferred'A that they be made.- as specified. Each container is provided with Va. plurality of straps. 14:..

- extending from. eachV corner of the` con.

tainer. Preferably these straps. are formed as. shown by a continuous. strip 'of material passed entirely around the container (see Fig.,2) and looped at thecorners. Each-1 of.

j thesestraps is providedwith a square,v link 15 (see- Fig. 5')` the ends ofA which are.; eX.-

tended outwardly to form Voffset portions.. Between the straps and? secured` tothesides ot vthe containers are diagonal supporting cords 16 which extend diagonally between the links 1-5. of each container.A 'Irmay use stift` light braces instead of cords.` The straps and cords are ot. such length that each is drawn taut when inV the' extended-f Vposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The containers are connected to each other and in rows by snap rings or Vlinks 17 (see Figs. and 6) which connect four adjacent links 15 when the containers arefplaced side by side.

-VVhen so connected,` the containers.; are greatly strengthened by the straps andi cords, andi are united andfmaintained in. thebattery formation` shown, the` cords.. of? each container being then diagonal.' incntinuaFA tionof each other. Cords litt/are passed through eyelets 16b in each strap on the tops of the containers: and 'around each. group? orgto `each other..

Above the carzand on each sideV oi-the. air` l whatsoever.

and tied to the frameofthecar to hold the units of the groups close together. Other Ymeans may'l be" devised; orj fastening the l,groups together. J Y Attached to the links 17 of the lowermost containers by detachable snap hooks 18y similar to' the hooks 17, v(see Fig; 1") is a-V car structureV on; which is mounted thepropelling motor 20, and from which the craft is controlled. This car is. Va frameV structure: formed oiv light, strong materials and diagonally.- braced by struts 2L. The` longitudinal members 22 of thisstructure meet thel transverse members' 23, the`- verticall members. 24@ andt diagonallmembers. 21, as

shown in detail in Fig. 7 It Willbe noted:V that the transverse: membersl lap.. the l vertical `membersron .the inside, andfV that` thealongie tudinal members; 22 lap-theverticali.mem-` bers.` on:` the outside ot the corner and .un

`derneath the projected ends. ot the transverse members 2.3,..whi-le thev diagonal members;V arev located` bet-.weert the? longitudinal members; 22, andthe end-.mostof them are 1j braced at the foot againstltheV projecteden-ds:

three in number in this caseare ally jcurnaled on the; can. one.: directlycon,-A

mayl be made for mounting; these. Propellersin. desired relation to; thegas.. containers craft isH series odi-*steering.- vanes 26. supe `ported' ima. frame 27. carriedi'by uprights 28 from: thefcarr In this embodiment there are4 six.. of these; vanesf oneachy side:V of. Ythe craft. vertical? plane, the; inclination of nal axes being rearwardly.- (see Fig; L); They are; arranged@` in twogroups ot three on; each; side for independent operation. @ne group of three 27 on each. side isI arranged forwardly ot thefmiddle of theucrat@ while: the other group; otthnee 2.8! on, eachV sideorV the machine i'sarr-anged aff/t of'thenm'iddleof They are obliquely journa-led in a.

. thecraft. The-,variesr of. each groupot three kof the. transverse Amembers 23A and? against the intermediate verticalV members: 25 bel .tvszfeen thelongitudinal members v22.. The' propeller@ are connectedbyf cor-.dsa29secured-f to them inv suchi manner tha-t they may: be movedi' in-.uni sonv in. the-.same angularl position, the. cords.y

being'run. through eyes 30.1 and pulleysl at eacliendgof the group: tefoperating; pulls: 32-v suitably placed on the.V can] Byv pull-ingI `upon' the cords. leadin-gi to .either end,` the Vvanescf a groupfmayfbe moved trom, andfto: the vertical planey in which. they normally. lie and maybe given anyy angular position.`

It will'V beY noted that the framesv 27. in` which the vanes are mounted.- have an upwardinclination at theirf'orward Eends. By this. provision air is enabled toy l.reach.eachvane, and. eachyaneis thus made- 95 nected to the motor 20% and'f the. othertwo.v 'geared toV it as. shown.. Suitable. provision active. lWhen it is desired to steer the shipA turned outwardly and forwardly, while the left hand group 28 is turned outwardly to make same acute angle with the vertical plane as is made by the forwardly turned vanes 27. The action of the air upon the vanes, as shown by the arrows, thus tends to turn the craft to the right; If desired the aft vanes 28 may be operated to position them oppositely to the forward vanes 27 as shown, and thus assist in the turning of the craft. A very abrupt turning about of the craft may be had in this manner. Of course the ship may be turned to the left in an entirely similar manner. If itis desired to point the ship upwardly the two aft groups of vanes 28 are given the extended position shown in Fig. l0, while the forward groups of vanes 27 are retained in their normal planes. The air` acting on the inclined blades will move the stern of the craft downwardly and therefore point the prow upwardly. rThat this is true will appear when we consider the fact that the groups of vanes are on opposite sides of the middle of the craft and the turning moment therefore will be in a direction dependentL upon the position of the particular groups of vanes actuated. On the other vhand if it is desired to point the craft downwardly the front groups of vanes 27 are extended as shown in Fig. 1l, while the aft groups of vanes 28 are maintained in normal position.

The craft may be steered to right or left at the same time that it is being pointed upwardly or downwardly. In Fig. 12 is shown diagrammatieally the position of the vanes for causing the ship to point upwardly and to the right. The aft vanes 28 are extended outwardly as in Fig. l0, while the forward vanes 27 are positioned as in Fig. 9, making the same acute angle in opposite directions on opposite sides of the craft. A little inspection will show that a pointing of the craft downwardly may be brought about by positioning the vanes 27 as the vaines 2S are positioned and by positioning the vanes 28 as the vanes 27 are positioned.

It may be found desirable to drop the craft abruptly from an elevation and the steering means provided makes it possible to accomplish also this result. All of the vanes are moved to the same extended position as shown in Fig. 8. The rapid descent will depend upon the extent which the vanes are moved. If moved to a position at right angles to the normal vertical plane the descent will be very abrupt, while if moved from a vertical plane to an intermediate position the descent may be very gentle.

And thus it should be evident-'that by the simple provision of groups of vanes obliquely mounted I have provided for amost flexible use and rapidcontrol of thecraftof my invention. Of course, the iiexibility of the vanes may be varied at willand should be varied according to circumstances. So also, the valles may be hinged as shown, `or maybe made of fiexiblematerial and rigidly mounted, or mounted to turn in any other well known manner.

By virtue of the detachable connection of the gas containers with each other, the craft of my invention may be readilyassembled and disassembled, and by virtue of its'sectional or multiple construction is best adapted for portation. In disassembling the craft!` the car is first detached from the containers by removing the snap hooks l8,`and thereafter the containers are detachedfone `by one, the lowermost first by detaching the snap hook `17. In assembling 'operation is followed. The first containers filled with gas are raised, and thereafter others are attached in place and filled with gas, the craft being allowed to rise in the air as it is assembled. It is of c'ourse obvious that when disassembled the units of the car are such that they may be most readily transported from point to point.

While I have described in detail the one specific embodiment of myinvention, which embodiment is the best known to me at the present time, I wish to have it understood that many modifications may be made without departing in any wise from its generic spirit, and I desire to cover in the annexed claims all such modifications.

What I claim is I* l. In an air craft, a steering mechanism comprising a rectangular frame disposed vertically against each side of the craft and being inclined downwardly at its rear end, independent groups of planes hinged obliquely Vto the vertical axis of the craft in said frames, and independent operating means for each by the latter are moved in different directions.

2. In an air craft, a steering mechanism comprising a frame disposed against the side of the craft and inclining downwardly toward one end of the craft, and a plurality of planes mounted in spaced relation in the frame.

3. In an air craft, a steering mechanism comprising a vertical frame for attachment at an angle against the side of the craft, and a plurality of planes mounted in the frame.

4. In an air craft, a steering mechanism comprising an inclined frame for attachment against the side of the craft, and a plurality of planes arranged in the frame and being consecutively spaced downwardly the reverse` group of said planes where.

whereby vthen-lower` ends. lie iny thedirect` path of. the ai-r Currents.

5g. an air craft, a: steering mechanismv comprising Aa frame f carried `against the side of the: craftv and being inclined with vrespect to4 the length: oi the craft, and a plurality' spacedy planesV carried at the. 'sidefof theV Y craftV and being/consecutively offset with respect to theY lengthY ofthe craft,K whereby the.l planes are each disposed directly the path.. of they air Vcurrents duningthe` flight. 0fthe craft.. Y Y

'V7-An air @rait having. a plurality of planes1 longitudinally spaced: at the side of the Grail?y and being disposedobliquely and inv oset relation, whereby Veach plane lies in the direct path of the] air currentsduring theflorizontal andthe vertical Hight of the cra A Y f -f 8. In an air craft, a steerr'igV mechanism comprising a plurality vof planes hinged obliquely Withrespect'to the longitudinal .axisof the. craft and being consecutively offsetfrom one another with respectto the length of the cra-ft whereby a 'portion of each plane liesdirectly in the path of the air currents.

- In testimony my'handY in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. Y v

Y FREDERICK BRACKETT. Witnesses: Y

ARTHUR L. BRYANT,y Gv; STUGKER.

copis-off tli-patentffmay'be obtained for nire cents'y each; by addressing*thel` Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, Di G`. Y v

whereof Ihave hereunto set 

